State announces price checks as gas hovers near $4 per gallon

State officials announced Monday they plan to conduct price checks at gas stations around Massachusetts, saying they hope to prevent gouging as prices hover around the $4 per gallon mark.

Inspectors will look to ensure that street signs, posted pump signs and computer signs all register the same price for gas, while also trying to determine whether prices are appreciably higher than normal in a geographic area.

According to the Division of Standards, gas stations, when raising prices, must adjust the street sign to reflect the higher price before changing the price at the pump, and discounts for paying with cash, getting a car wash or other incentives must be clearly labeled on street signs.